• According to the World Bank, investment to cover energy needs in the Mediterranean will come to €23 billion per year by 2030 • Enhanced dialogue through UfM platforms on energy will facilitate partnerships between the main stakeholders in the field of energy and strengthen cooperation between the member states of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)… read more
• The Mediterranean is one of the most vulnerable regions to the adverse effects of climate change. • In the run-up to the COP 21 in Paris, the UfM Informal High-Level Conference on Climate Change in Skhirat, Morocco contributes to fostering regional dialogue and cooperation to support Mediterranean countries’ ongoing efforts to achieve climate change goals…. read more
• The UfM Secretariat actively participated in the Mediterranean Forest Week, which took place from 17-20 March 2015 in Barcelona. • Barcelona is also home to the Mediterranean Regional Office of the European Forest Institute (EFIMED)…. read more
Barcelona, 3 February 2015. The period for the submission of entries to the Catalonia Ecodesign Award 2015, is now open. This award, organised by the Government of Catalonia, recognises products, products under development and product-fostering strategies that are designed to improve the environmental performance of products and services over the course of their life cycle. The award has five categories, of which category E Euro-Mediterranean Design is aimed at international entrants from the 21 neighbouring countries of the Mediterranean. The Award counts on the support of SWITCH-Med, the EU funded Programme to support Mediterranean countries to shift to Sustainable Patterns of… read more
National representatives in charge of Environmental Policy from more than 20 Mediterranean countries joined participants from international financial institutions, regional organisations and other key stakeholders in adopting a strategic document outlining the key objectives over the next 5 years for the H2020 Initiative for a cleaner Mediterranean as regards investments in pollution reduction, review and monitoring, capacity building and research…. read more
The Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production is launching the Catalonia Ecodesign Award 2015. This is an initiative organized by the Government of Catalonia and it is open to candidates based in Mediterranean neighbouring countries. The award counts on the support of SWITCH-Med, the EU funded Programme to support Mediterranean countries to shift to Sustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production, and on the collaboration of UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan, UNEP/Division of Technology Industry and Economics and the Secretariat of Union for the Mediterranean. The Catalonia Ecodesign Award is addressed to designers (both professionals and students), manufacturers or promoters who… read more
Barcelona, 13 November 2014. The UfM-labelled project Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector successfully launched the national policy dialogue in Palestine — the first country to enter the second phase — during a first consultation workshop in Rammallah on 13 November. Officially launched in May 2013, this regional project is jointly implemented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean(GWP-Med). Its core objective is to relieve key governance bottlenecks to mobilising financing through public private partnerships (PPP) in the Mediterranean water sector and to support the development of consensual action plans based on international good… read more
Deputy Secretary General Naser Tahboub stresses the UfM Secretariat’s commitment to fulfil its mandate in bringing together all relevant actors and to serve as a multi-stakeholders platform to boost the environmental agenda… read more
During the three-day conference, Claudio Cortese, Senior Deputy Secretary General for Business Development; Teresa Ribeiro, Deputy Secretary General for Energy; Naser Tahboub, Deputy Secretary General for Environment and Water; and Salvatore D’Alfonso, UfM Transport and Urban Development project manager, discussed renewable energies, eco-efficiency, green finances, entrepreneurship, education, free zones and the integration of the Maghreb region… read more
Barcelona, 27 November 2014. UfM Deputy Secretary General for Environment and Water, Naser Tahboub, participated in the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Mediterranean Water Forum, held in Murcia, Spain from 25 to 27 November. In his speech, Mr Tahboub highlighted the need for continued efforts and stronger coordination amongst Mediterranean actors in order to tackle priority issues in the region, which is facing growing pollution and water scarcity challenges. Following the 1st Mediterranean Water Forum (December 2011 in Marrakesh, Morocco), Mr Tahboub welcomed efforts to continue the invaluable cooperation and exchange of know-how and experience in the water sector. This… read more